CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – For the second consecutive day, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's hockey team erased an early 3-0 deficit and came away with a 5-4 victory in overtime. On Saturday, senior Nyah Philip took the honors as the Engineers took home the victory over the Harvard Crimson. RPI continues their best start in program history since the 2005-06 season, improving to 6-1-3 overall and 2-0 in ECAC Hockey play.
 
It was all Harvard early on, as the Crimson scored three times in the first period – with two coming on the power play to make it a 3-0 Harvard lead. Sophie Ensley opened up the scoring with a goal from Mia Biotti and Shannon Hollands, while Hollands and Maria Pape collected tallies with the advantage.
 
RPI responded back at the 4:33 of the second period, as freshman Morgann Skoda scored with a tick remaining on an Engineers power play to make it 3-1. Aylah Cioffi and MJ Alexander each had assists on the goal. Ellie Kaiser did the same, scoring on the power play on an assist from Georgia Bailey and Maddy Papineau as RPI cut the score to 3-2 heading into the final frame.
 
In the third, RPI made it four unanswered goals as Taylor Larsen scored for the second straight day to tie things up at 3-3 at the 16:23 mark. Just over a minute later, Philip collected her first of the night to put RPI ahead on a scramble in front of the net.
 
As time ticked down, Harvard evened the score with 78 seconds remaining in regulation as Biotti scored on assists from Hollands and Kate Kasica to even things back up at 4-4. Both sides held tight over the final minute, as things went to overtime.
 
Philip wasted no time in the overtime period, collecting the puck on a breakaway. She would finish inside the left post, giving the Engineers the victory.
 
RPI returns to action next Friday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. when they return to Houston Field House to take on Colgate.